Rembrandt really IS the best

Time was running out (it closes September 3rd) on a rare exhibit (about 200 [apparently, he made about 600] of Rembrandt's etchings, loaned from a collection housed in a Parisian hotel, of all places; a society owns them and is based in the hotel), so after two errands, I reported to Leiden's municipal museum, with low expectations (this is a small city, albeit his birthplace), and after paying the 10 Euro fee, was given a flyer and a little plastic magnifying glass. Up an elegant double staircase (like "Queen for a Day'', curving down on both sides; this style has a name), about 200 very fine etchings were beautifully displayed, with English and Dutch notes. They were nearly all small, and quite a few were VERY small -- about 2'' x 3''. They were astonishing pictures, all of them. The technique is so demanding, to start with. They are as fine as any of his paintings -- utterly exquisite. The detail of most faces was as clear as if he'd painted them, if not clearer. To me, the most amazing was the ''Christ driving the Money Changers from the Temple''. It was action-packed, with the Christ figure hitting people with a thick metal CHAIN (maybe it was a thick rope; they didn't have steel in biblical times), his arms raised over his head wielding the chain, surrounded by goats, horses, dogs, and full of people. For me, his self-portraits are always the best, and these were well represented. Obviously, the world has produced quite a few other fine artists, but for me, Rembrandt is it. I couldn't do without Titian's beautiful skies, Leonardo and Michelangelo, Raphael, and a few others, but it's a very short list of artists that deeply move me, and he will always head it.

Still no bank account! Tomorrow marks the two weeks during which it should have appeared. There is NOTHING to do but wait. I look for diversions.

A friend is attending the big meeting in Prague of the International Astronomical Union. I know nothing of astronomy, but it's very interesting. He works on Babylonian astronomy (the meaning of the unearthed tablets' translations; or the cradle of astronomy). I noticed today that they removed Pluto from the list of planets, to wit:

"Much-maligned Pluto doesn't make the grade under the new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit."
Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.''

So, that's the day. I wondered what the etches were worth. The last time I was in London, I saw 60 Leonardo drawings in the Queen's Gallery, just around the corner from Buckingham Palace, and wondered what *they* were worth. I will content myself with my beautifully matted and framed set of Rembrandt self-portraits as set into a postage-stamp-like arrangement, that the National Gallery issued. The little perforated thing cost $2.75, and the framing cost exponentially that, but I love it, and will have my own Rembrandts back, as of next Tuesday!

In closing, if anyone has travel plans to Holland by September 3rd, the Rembrandt exhibit here is WELL worth a detour from Amsterdam.